AEGiS-15IAC: Establishment of a VCT centre - promotes high demand for counselling and testing amongst female sex workers.

AEGiS-15IAC: Establishment of a VCT centre - promotes high demand for counselling and testing amongst female sex workers. - Webuye Experience.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Establishment of a VCT centre - promotes high demand for counselling and testing amongst female sex workers. - Webuye Experience.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. E10114)

Kweya JA, Nyongesa E, Aduwa PA
STD/HIV Impact Project, Kakamega, Kenya

ISSUES: Female Sex Workers (FSW) Programme has been able to provide the high-risk group with information on STD/HIV/AIDS and component of HIV prevention - VCT aiming at behaviour change

DESCRIPTION: Strengthening STD/HIV/AIDS project is one of the implementing partners in the IMPACT project with existing intervention on HIV prevention and care. 20 peer Educators have undergone intensive training on STD/HIV/AIDS and home based care, thus disseminating information on HIV infection to 20 formed peer led groups who are registered with the social services. As role models, the 20 peer educators opted to undertake VCT services; other peers are increasingly seeking VCT services to know their sero-status and taking decision to cope with the situation to cope with the situation. FSWs within the peer led groups participate actively in the following activities. FSW has started an IGA to support orphans left by their colleagues. Assist each other through merry go round and table banking. Have opened a savings account for emergency support scheme to enable them assist each other in case of sickness and loss of one of the colleagues. Participate in inter-zonal competition on facilitation skills and other activities.

LESSONS LEARNED: Capacity building and IGA enhance formation of FSWs association for group dynamics for behaviour change and stopping sex work. Incorporating VCT counsellors in FSWs programmes increases the number of those seeking VCT services. The programme has empowered FSWs and created tremendous awareness on basic facts of HIV/AIDS/STIs and improved their negotiation skills Recommendation: To sustain FSWs programme, there's need to involve the community and various stakeholders for critical ownership and behaviour change. FSWs need to be capacity built in management skills for sustainability of their IGAs

Keywords: AEGIS, Counseling, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, Research Design, Demography, Prostitution, Behavior, HIV Seropositivity, Peer Group, Female, prevention & control, manpower, organization & administration, therapy, education

040711
E10114